MLB Player News

Neto (back) is reportedly pain-free and is expected to return to baseball activities as soon as Friday, per MLB.com.

Neto landed on the injured list with a back injury Aug. 4 and hasn't taken part in baseball activities since. He was diagnosed with inflammation but has subsequently made progress toward his return. Neto is expected back before the end of the campaign, though he may still be several weeks away from being activated.

Baez is expected to return from the bereavement list Friday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Baez has been away from the Tigers since Saturday while attending funeral services for his grandfather in Puerto Rico. He should appear in at least one half of Friday's doubleheader against the Guardians. Thursday's series opener in Cleveland was postponed due to rain, resulting in the twin bill.

Baez (bereavement) remains away from the Tigers on Thursday.

Baez was placed on the bereavement list Saturday as he traveled to Puerto Rico to attend his grandfather's funeral. The bereavement list window is three-to-seven days, so it's possible he doesn't rejoin the club until this weekend. Zack Short will start at shortstop and bat ninth Thursday as the Tigers open a four-game series in Cleveland.

Anderson's suspension was reduced to five games Thursday, and he will begin serving the ban Friday in Colorado, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

With the suspension for participating in the Aug. 5 brawl with the Guardians going into effect Friday, the shortstop will miss the series in Colorado and the first two games in Seattle early next week. He will return from the suspension Aug. 23, the rubber match of the series against the Mariners. Anderson's suspension was reduced from six games after he settled with the league before an appeal hearing was needed.

Crawford (concussion) could be activated from the 7-day injured list ahead of Sunday's series finale in Houston, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

He landed on the 7-day IL last Friday, following a collision two days prior with teammate Eugenio Suarez. Crawford has shown steady improvement throughout this week and will soon report to High-A Everett for a quick minor-league rehab stint. Jose Caballero and Dylan Moore have been sharing starts at shortstop in his absence while Julio Rodriguez has been hitting leadoff.

Boston manager Alex Cora said Reyes will serve as the backup first baseman while Justin Turner plays through a bone bruise on his left heel, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Turner is limited to designated hitter duty for the time being, so Cora said Reyes will play first base whenever Triston Casas sits. Reyes has never played first base in the majors, but he's had a reliable bat of late, which the manager could use if needed. Reyes, who popped a two-run home run Wednesday, is batting .394 (13-for-33) with two home runs, three doubles, six RBI and seven runs scored over the last nine games.

Rocchio went 3-for-4 in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Reds.

Rocchio has multiple hits in three of his last seven games, though this was the first time he was in the lineup since Saturday. The shortstop is batting .288 with a .674 OPS, no home runs, four RBI, six runs scored and no stolen bases through 55 plate appearances. With Jose Tena optioned to Triple-A Columbus, Rocchio will compete with Gabriel Arias and Tyler Freeman for playing time at shortstop going forward.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Mondesi (knee) has been shut down again, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Mondesi resumed baseball activities at the beginning of August and had recently advanced to facing live pitching, but his surgically-repaired left knee is apparently barking again. The 28-year-old speedster hasn't appeared in a game at any level this season, and time is running out for him to do so in 2023.

Anderson (neck) is back in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs.

Anderson will start at shortstop and bat leadoff versus the Cubs and right-hander Javier Assad after being scratched Tuesday due to neck stiffness. He also missed some time last week because of a forearm bruise, and the appeal on his pending six-game suspension is scheduled to be heard Thursday, so he'll likely soon be in for another absence.

Bichette (knee) went 2-for-3 with two singles and a run scored in his rehab debut Wednesday for Triple-A Buffalo.

Bichette was supposed to begin his minor-league rehab assignment with Buffalo on Tuesday before the game got postponed due to rain. He served as Buffalo's designated hitter Wednesday but is scheduled to play shortstop Thursday and could return from the 10-day injured list as early as Friday's series opener in Cincinnati. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since late July because of patellar tendinitis in his right knee.